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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 3735063" data-attributes="member: 143">Well, one thing to keep in mind in this section of the story is that this is their second visit to these temples, so I am moving things around and augmenting them. For example, in the battle above the wights (and the barrowwight) were from level 5, the spectres were from the adjacent room (that they missed last time around), and the spectre wizard was the only survivor from their last visit (and we've encountered Nadroj a few times already). The fire giant skeleton and the ghouls/ghasts were elements that I added in keeping with the idea that something would replace the former occupants of the temple. Where I'm currently at in the story, I'm adding a lot of improvised elements, including some nasty new undead (from published sources, and a few hybrid creations of my own). * * * * * Chapter 241ONE DOWNA subtle change, a twist of power that each of them felt deep in their gut.  That was all that there was, no flashy burst of spell effects or a raging cry torn from the very stones of the chamber.  The light from their magical torches did not brighten, and the shadows that clung to the walls seemed just as malevolent as before.  But there was something, an incremental weakening of the oppressiveness of the place, that each of them could feel. “It is done,” Nelan said, unnecessarily.  The cleric sagged back on his haunches, and sucked in a tired breath. “Good work, Nelan,” Talen said.  The cleric nodded, and started to get up, but Allera forestalled him.  “The ritual drained you, you need to rest.”  The healer looked up at Talen, who—after a moment’s hesitation—nodded. “No, I will be all right,” Nelan said.  The cleric looked at Talen, saw the truth there in his eyes.  “We cannot linger here.  Now that we have been at least partially successful, our enemy will not lie complacent.”  He patted Allera’s arm.  “Do not worry about me, child.  I am not that old.  And I have prepared a restoration spell to ease my physical weariness.”  Both knew that the spell would do little to ease the spiritual strain wrought by their time in Rappan Athuk, but for that Nelan’s own internal strength would have to suffice.  Talen rubbed his chin, where the stubble of a new beard had risen.  They had already spent nearly two full days in the temple.  After the wight attack, Nelan had been forced to begin his hallow spell again from the beginning, after a short rest.  He only had one more scroll with the spell, but he was powerful enough to pray for it himself, and they had brought additional quantities of the rare and valuable ancillaries required for the casting, against just such a circumstance.  “How much longer with the effects of your last heroes’ feast last, Allera?” “It is difficult to be certain of time, down here,” the healer replied.  “A few hours, at least... I think.  If we rested, I could prepare a fresh one...”“No, Nelan has the right of it.”  His gaze strayed to where Letellia was folding her blankets for return to one of her magical pouches.  “The archmage has not rejoined us since we came here, and it’s been more than long enough for him to rest and return.”“Do you think something’s happened to him?” Allera asked. “Perhaps.  Or perhaps it’s this place,” Talen said, looking around.  “It is logical that they would shield their temples from prying eyes,” Nelan said. Talen nodded.  “Are you ready to guide us forward?” “Yes.  I prepared the find the path spell after our last rest.”  With the information provided by your erstwhile companion, and the key he gave us, the spell should guide us true to the route down.  I just need a small amount of time, about ten minutes, to spend in communion with the Father, before we leave.”“All right,” Talen said.  “Take the time you need to collect yourself, then we’ll move out.”Talen left Nelan to Allera, who supervised the casting of his restoration spell, as though their roles were reversed, and she was the old veteran and he the youthful neophyte. Although no one who knew the healer well would use the latter term, for in fact her power had now grown to the point where she was one of the strongest divine casters in the world.  The knight waved to Dar, who was working with Shay to inventory their remaining supplies.  Between the scout’s bag of holding and their ability to create magical food, what they had would be good for weeks yet.  Their cache of healing supplies was still considerable, and they had more than enough spare weapons. That last issue drew the knight’s attention, as he looked down at the weapons spread out on a spare cloak on the floor. “Have you decided which one you want yet, commander?” Dar asked. Talen looked at the weapons.  The most remarkable was an elaborate greatsword, its quillons fashioned into the shape of small, perfect cubes.  It lay adjacent to a longsword with a blade so black it was nearly lost in the fabric of the dark cloak.  Adamantine, and almost unbelievably sharp after what had to be centuries of lying hidden. There had been a third sword, another longsword that burned with magical fire, but Shay had claimed that one already, slinging her old blade across her back.  They had found the weapons, along with several other items, in a crypt hidden behind a secret door behind the statue of Orcus.  Unsurprisingly it had been one of the elves that had found the door, but they would not have thought to look had it not been for the surprise appearance of the spectres from that direction.  Talen had been wary of splitting the group while Nelan worked his ritual, but he had also been reluctant to leave a possible threat unexplored.  It turned out that his concern was unnecessary; there had been only one small chamber beyond the secret portal, a long-abandoned crypt.  The skeletons buried within the four tombs had not animated to assail them, and the party had returned bearing the magical weapons and other potent treasures hidden within.  Selanthas now wore an amulet that offered protection against death attacks, while Allera carried the most powerful and surprising boon; a rod of resurrection. Talen knelt to examine the blades again.  He looked up at Dar.  “Well, do you want the greatsword?  Alderis said that it is an axiomatic weapon, like your sword.  The way that you hack about with both hands, it may be useful.”Dar frowned, and his hand dropped to the hilt of Valor.  “I already have a sword,” he said, turning and walking away.  Talen and Shay shared a look; the scout shrugged.  “Well, it looks like I’m carrying this slab of iron,” Talen said, taking the greatsword.  The sword was heavy, and would feel even heavier after a few hours with it on his back, but he knew that they had a long haul ahead of them, and was extremely reluctant to leave a powerful weapon behind them.  “See if Mehlaraine is willing to take the adamantine sword,” he told Shay. The elves had kept to themselves for most of their stay here, joining the group only to partake in Allera’s daily heroes’ feast.  But as Dar walked across the room, Mehlaraine came up to him.  The elf had avoided him since Allera had healed her, perhaps for obvious reasons. “We are departing again?”“Looks like it.”She paused, but something in her stance and eyes held him, and he stopped.  “Look,” he said.  “You don’t have to...”“I wish to apologize for my actions,” she said.  “There is no need.  I got my head fried by that bastard too, remember?  You were not in control of your actions, that’s the end of it as far as I am concerned.”“I concur.  It is not that, specifically, that troubles me.  If anything, I feel that the experience has given me insight into how my father has suffered.”  Her gaze drifted to the side, and settled briefly on the older elf, shrugging his back and bow across his back with the patience assistance of Selanthas.  To Dar’s eyes, there was little now connecting Elegion Alderis to the Mad Elf he had first met on their first, involuntary, expedition into Rappan Athuk. “What, then?”She turned back to him.  “In my madness, I was consumed by rage.  But it was not just the insanity of the barrowwight’s gaze that drove me.”  She took a breath.  “I will be frank with you, human.  I do not like your kind.  Humans... they are loud, boorish, aggressive.  Their grasp of the subtleties of culture and art are... crude, at best.  They venerate order, but mainly as a means of subjugating all around them to their own conceptualization of a structured ideal.  They are exceptional when it comes to violence, but they use it to destroy far more often than they do to defend.”“This has got to be the weirdest apology I have ever heard,” he said. She managed a faint smile.  “I blamed you, in no small part, for what happened to my father.  It was your people who damned him to this place.”“Hey, it wasn’t my people,” Dar corrected.  “Don’t forget, they shoved me into this craphole too.  And I have to say, your dad was pretty freaking nuts at the time.”  “That is true.  I saw the madness claim him, although it drove him away before it could fully manifest.  Before it could fully tear down the magnificent edifice of his mind.  Do you know what that did to him, fighter?”She leaned in closer, and lowered her voice.  “My father was once among the foremost minds of a people known for their depth of insight.  I have watched him closely since his return, and while he is better, he is still not close to what he was.  He is almost like a...”“Human?”Her smile froze, and something sharp appeared in her eyes.  “You do not make it simple, but I wish to make you understand.  I know that my father does what must be done, and that is why Selanthas and I have chosen to stand with him.  I was suspicious of you and your companions at first.  I questioned your motives, and I argued with my father against joining your company.”“And now?”“Now I have gained... insight, into what fruit the seed of anger spawns.  I have seen things I would have preferred to have never witnessed, since I came to this place.  From what you and the others have said, I expect fully to see worse before our journey here is complete.  And so, I apologize to you, Corath Dar.  I would not call you friend, but from this point forward, I will call you ally.  Thank you, I will take the sword.”He blinked, and only belatedly realized that the last statement was directed at Shay, who was standing behind them.  Mehlaraine took the adamantine sword, which looked overly large in her hands.  She slung it across her back, and turned to rejoin her father and consort.  Shay looked slightly bemused.  “You have a way with people.”“Yeah, I’m beating them off with a stick,” he growled.  “Excuse me, I need to get my pack.”There was a bustling minute or two as everyone checked and double-checked their gear.  Weapons clicked into scabbards, and bowstrings twanged in readiness.  Finally Talen came before them, his helm cradled in the crook of his swordarm.  “All right, people.  One down, two to go.  Nelan?”The priest nodded, and lifted his divine focus.  The silver torch flared slightly as he faced south, and he started them toward the door to the staircase down, Shay moving forward to take the lead.</blockquote>

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